Chiswick is a Heathrow suburb in most people's minds: the M4 starts at the Chiswick roundabout, and the airport is only a few miles west. But for many holiday flights and some long-haul routes, Gatwick is where you need to be, and from W4 that is a 30-mile journey south across the Thames and through Surrey. A taxi from Chiswick to Gatwick Airport costs from £89 for a saloon, fixed at booking, collected from your door.
Which way to Gatwick
The driver usually chooses between two routes. The first crosses the Thames at Chiswick Bridge or Kew Bridge, heads through Richmond and Kingston to the A3, then the M25 at junction 10 and round to the M23. The second goes east through Putney or Wandsworth and down through south London on the A3 or A24 and A217 to the M25 at junction 8. Both are around 32 miles.
Plan on 55 minutes to an hour and ten minutes in normal traffic. The South Circular, the A3 through Kingston, and the M25 junction 10 at Wisley are the usual slow spots. For early flights, the roads are clear and the trip is quicker.
Around W4
W4 covers Chiswick High Road and Turnham Green, the riverside around Strand on the Green and Chiswick Mall, Grove Park and the streets near Chiswick House, Bedford Park on the Acton border, and Gunnersbury. Most residential streets have controlled parking during the day, which does not affect a pickup. On the High Road, buses and cycle lanes mean the driver will meet you on a side road.
The riverside streets at Strand on the Green and Chiswick Mall are narrow, and some are close to the water. If you live there, tell us the best place to stop.
Train or taxi?
There is no direct train from Chiswick to Gatwick. The usual rail route is a South Western Railway train from Chiswick or Gunnersbury to Clapham Junction, then a Southern train to Gatwick, or the District line to Victoria for the Gatwick Express. Either way, it takes around an hour and a quarter with at least one change.
For a solo traveller with light luggage, that is cheaper. For families, travellers with heavy cases, or anyone with an early flight, the car is much easier, and for three or four people the fixed fare is competitive.
Gatwick's drop-off charges
If someone is driving you, they should know that Gatwick has charged £10 for the first ten minutes in its forecourt drop-off zones since January 2026, then £1 a minute up to thirty minutes, enforced by cameras. Payment is due online by midnight the next day. The free option is the Long Stay car park, with up to two hours free and a shuttle bus. None of that applies to a pre-booked transfer, because the fare already covers it.
Timing your pickup
As a guide, leave Chiswick about two and three quarter hours before a short-haul flight and three and a quarter hours before long-haul. In the school holidays, add half an hour. When you book, we will recommend a pickup time based on your flight and terminal.
Coming home
The same fixed fare applies from Gatwick to Chiswick. Your driver tracks your flight, waits in arrivals with a name board and helps with your luggage. Delays do not add anything to the fare.
Families and luggage
For family holidays, a saloon takes two large cases; an estate takes four; an MPV takes six passengers with their bags. Child seats are free.
Business travellers in W4
Chiswick Park and the offices along the High Road and the Great West Road are home to international companies, and many staff fly from Gatwick for European business trips. Our executive saloon gives you a quiet cabin to work on the way, and company accounts get monthly invoicing with a reference for each journey.
Booking for guests
If you are booking for a guest or relative arriving at Gatwick, put their name and mobile number on the booking. The driver will meet them in arrivals with a name board and bring them to your door in Chiswick, and the confirmation will come to you.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi from Chiswick to Gatwick?
From £89 for a saloon carrying up to four passengers, fixed at booking.
How long does it take?
Around 55 minutes to an hour and ten minutes for 32 miles.
Is there a direct train from Chiswick to Gatwick?
No. You usually change at Clapham Junction or Victoria.
Do you cover Strand on the Green and Bedford Park?
Yes. Any address in W4 can be booked at a fixed price.
What time should I leave for my flight?
About two and three quarter hours before short-haul and three and a quarter hours before long-haul.
Will the driver wait if my flight is late?
Yes. The flight is tracked, so the pickup moves with it and the price stays the same.
Do you also go to Heathrow from Chiswick?
Yes. Heathrow is much closer, and you can book it at a fixed price in the same way.
Can I book a pickup for a guest arriving at Gatwick?
Yes. Add their name and mobile number and the driver will meet them in arrivals.
